Create an asymmetric KMS key

You can create asymmetric KMS keys in the AWS KMS console, by using the CreateKey API, or by using the AWS::KMS::Key AWS CloudFormation template. An asymmetric KMS key represents a public and private key pair that can be used for encryption, signing, or deriving shared secrets. The private key remains within AWS KMS. To download the public key for use outside of AWS KMS, see Download public key.

When you create an asymmetric KMS key, you must select a key spec. Often the key spec that you select is determined by regulatory, security, or business requirements. It might also be influenced by the size of messages that you need to encrypt or sign. In general, longer encryption keys are more resistant to brute-force attacks. For a detailed description of all supported key specs, see Key spec reference.

AWS services that integrate with AWS KMS do not support asymmetric KMS keys. If you want to create a KMS key that encrypts data that you store or manage in an AWS service, create a symmetric encryption KMS key.

For information about the permissions required to create KMS keys, see Permissions for creating KMS keys.

You can use the AWS Management Console to create asymmetric AWS KMS keys (KMS keys). Each asymmetric KMS key represents a public and private key pair.

Important

Do not include confidential or sensitive information in the alias, description, or tags. These fields may appear in plain text in CloudTrail logs and other output.

Sign in to the AWS Management Console and open the AWS Key Management Service (AWS KMS) console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/kms.
To change the AWS Region, use the Region selector in the upper-right corner of the page.
In the navigation pane, choose Customer managed keys.
Choose Create key.
To create an asymmetric KMS key, in Key type, choose Asymmetric.
To create an asymmetric KMS key for public key encryption, in Key usage, choose Encrypt and decrypt.

To create an asymmetric KMS key for signing messages and verifying signatures, in Key usage, choose Sign and verify.

To create an asymmetric KMS key for deriving shared secrets, in Key usage, choose Key agreement.

For help choosing a key usage value, see Choosing what type of KMS key to create.
Select a specification (Key spec) for your asymmetric KMS key.
Choose Next.
Type an alias for the KMS key. The alias name cannot begin with aws/. The aws/ prefix is reserved by Amazon Web Services to represent AWS managed keys in your account.

An alias is a friendly name that you can use to identify the KMS key in the console and in some AWS KMS APIs. We recommend that you choose an alias that indicates the type of data you plan to protect or the application you plan to use with the KMS key.

Aliases are required when you create a KMS key in the AWS Management Console. You cannot specify an alias when you use the CreateKey operation, but you can use the console or the CreateAlias operation to create an alias for an existing KMS key. For details, see Aliases in AWS KMS.
(Optional) Type a description for the KMS key.

Enter a description that explains the type of data you plan to protect or the application you plan to use with the KMS key.

You can add a description now or update it any time unless the key state is Pending Deletion or Pending Replica Deletion. To add, change, or delete the description of an existing customer managed key, edit the description on the details page for the KMS key in the AWS Management Console or use the UpdateKeyDescription operation.
(Optional) Type a tag key and an optional tag value. To add more than one tag to the KMS key, choose Add tag.

When you add tags to your AWS resources, AWS generates a cost allocation report with usage and costs aggregated by tags. Tags can also be used to control access to a KMS key. For information about tagging KMS keys, see Tags in AWS KMS and ABAC for AWS KMS.
Choose Next.
Select the IAM users and roles that can administer the KMS key.

Note
This key policy gives the AWS account full control of this KMS key. It allows account administrators to use IAM policies to give other principals permission to manage the KMS key. For details, see Default key policy.
IAM best practices discourage the use of IAM users with long-term credentials. Whenever possible, use IAM roles, which provide temporary credentials. For details, see Security best practices in IAM in the IAM User Guide.
(Optional) To prevent the selected IAM users and roles from deleting this KMS key, in the Key deletion section at the bottom of the page, clear the Allow key administrators to delete this key check box.
Choose Next.
Select the IAM users and roles that can use the KMS key for cryptographic operations.

Note
This key policy gives the AWS account full control of this KMS key. It allows account administrators to use IAM policies to give other principals permission to use the KMS key in cryptographic operations. For details, see Default key policy.
IAM best practices discourage the use of IAM users with long-term credentials. Whenever possible, use IAM roles, which provide temporary credentials. For details, see Security best practices in IAM in the IAM User Guide.
(Optional) You can allow other AWS accounts to use this KMS key for cryptographic operations. To do so, in the Other AWS accounts section at the bottom of the page, choose Add another AWS account and enter the AWS account identification number of an external account. To add multiple external accounts, repeat this step.

Note
To allow principals in the external accounts to use the KMS key, administrators of the external account must create IAM policies that provide these permissions. For more information, see Allowing users in other accounts to use a KMS key.
Choose Next.
Review the key settings that you chose. You can still go back and change all settings.
Choose Finish to create the KMS key.

You can use the CreateKey operation to create an asymmetric AWS KMS key. These examples use the AWS Command Line Interface (AWS CLI), but you can use any supported programming language.

When you create an asymmetric KMS key, you must specify the KeySpec parameter, which determines the type of keys you create. Also, you must specify a KeyUsage value of ENCRYPT_DECRYPT, SIGN_VERIFY, or KEY_AGREEMENT. You cannot change these properties after the KMS key is created.

The CreateKey operation doesn't let you specify an alias, but you can use the CreateAlias operation to create an alias for your new KMS key.

Important

Do not include confidential or sensitive information in the Description or Tags fields. These fields may appear in plain text in CloudTrail logs and other output.

Create an asymmetric KMS key pair for public encryption

The following example uses the CreateKey operation to create an asymmetric KMS key of 4096-bit RSA keys designed for public key encryption.


$ aws kms create-key --key-spec RSA_4096 --key-usage ENCRYPT_DECRYPT
{
    "KeyMetadata": {
        "KeyState": "Enabled",
        "KeyId": "1234abcd-12ab-34cd-56ef-1234567890ab",
        "KeyManager": "CUSTOMER",
        "Description": "",
        "Arn": "arn:aws:kms:us-west-2:111122223333:key/1234abcd-12ab-34cd-56ef-1234567890ab",
        "CreationDate": 1569973196.214,
        "MultiRegion": false,
        "KeySpec": "RSA_4096",
        "CustomerMasterKeySpec": "RSA_4096",
        "KeyUsage": "ENCRYPT_DECRYPT",
        "EncryptionAlgorithms": [
            "RSAES_OAEP_SHA_1",
            "RSAES_OAEP_SHA_256"
        ],
        "AWSAccountId": "111122223333",
        "Origin": "AWS_KMS",
        "Enabled": true
    }
}

Create an asymmetric KMS key pair for signing and verification

The following example command creates an asymmetric KMS key that represents a pair of ECC keys used for signing and verification. You cannot create an elliptic curve key pair for encryption and decryption.


$ aws kms create-key --key-spec ECC_NIST_P521 --key-usage SIGN_VERIFY
{
    "KeyMetadata": {
        "KeyState": "Enabled",
        "KeyId": "0987dcba-09fe-87dc-65ba-ab0987654321",
        "CreationDate": 1570824817.837,
        "Origin": "AWS_KMS",
        "SigningAlgorithms": [
            "ECDSA_SHA_512"
        ],
        "Arn": "arn:aws:kms:us-west-2:111122223333:key/0987dcba-09fe-87dc-65ba-ab0987654321",
        "AWSAccountId": "111122223333",
        "KeySpec": "ECC_NIST_P521",
        "CustomerMasterKeySpec": "ECC_NIST_P521",
        "KeyManager": "CUSTOMER",
        "Description": "",
        "Enabled": true,
        "MultiRegion": false,
        "KeyUsage": "SIGN_VERIFY"
    }
}

Create an asymmetric KMS key pair for deriving shared secrets

The following example command creates an asymmetric KMS key that represents a pair of ECDH keys used for deriving shared secrets. You cannot create an elliptic curve key pair for encryption and decryption.


$ aws kms create-key --key-spec ECC_NIST_P256 --key-usage KEY_AGREEMENT
{
    "KeyMetadata": {
        "AWSAccountId": "111122223333",
        "KeyId": "0987dcba-09fe-87dc-65ba-ab0987654321",
        "Arn": "arn:aws:kms:us-west-2:111122223333:key/0987dcba-09fe-87dc-65ba-ab0987654321",
        "CreationDate": "2023-12-27T19:10:15.063000+00:00",
        "Enabled": true,
        "Description": "",
        "KeyUsage": "KEY_AGREEMENT",
        "KeyState": "Enabled",
        "Origin": "AWS_KMS",
        "KeyManager": "CUSTOMER",
        "CustomerMasterKeySpec": "ECC_NIST_P256",
        "KeySpec": "ECC_NIST_P256",
        "KeyAgreementAlgorithms": [
            "ECDH"
        ],
        "MultiRegion": false
    }
}

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Document Conventions

Create a symmetric encryption KMS key

Create an HMAC KMS key

Create an asymmetric KMS key

Important

Note

Note

Note

Important

Create an asymmetric KMS key pair for public encryption

Create an asymmetric KMS key pair for signing and verification

Create an asymmetric KMS key pair for deriving shared secrets